1 I saw that the Lamb opened one of the seven seals, and I heard one
of the four living creatures saying, as with a voice of thunder, "Come and
see!" 2 And behold, a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow. A crown
was given to him, and he came forth conquering, and to conquer.
3 When he opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature
saying, "Come!" 4 Another came forth, a red horse. To him who sat on it
was given power to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one
another. There was given to him a great sword.
5 When he opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature saying,
"Come and see!" And behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a balance
in his hand. 6 I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures
saying, "A choenix*1 of wheat for a denarius,
and three choenix of barley for a denarius! Don't damage the oil and the
wine!"
7 When he opened the fourth seal, I heard the fourth living creature
saying, "Come and see!" 8 And behold, a pale horse, and he who sat on it,
his name was Death. Hades followed with him. Authority over one fourth of the
earth, to kill with the sword, with famine, with death, and by the wild
animals of the earth was given to him.
9 When he opened the fifth seal, I saw underneath the altar the souls of
those who had been killed for the Word of God, and for the testimony of the
Lamb which they had. 10 They cried with a loud voice, saying, "How long,
Master, the holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who
dwell on the earth?" 11 A long white robe was given to each of them. They
were told that they should rest yet for a while, until their fellow servants
and their brothers,*2 who would also be killed even as they were, should complete
their course.
12 I saw when he opened the sixth seal, and there was a great earthquake.
The sun became black as sackcloth made of hair, and the whole moon became as
blood. 13 The stars of the sky fell to the earth, like a fig tree dropping
its unripe figs when it is shaken by a great wind. 14 The sky was removed
like a scroll when it is rolled up. Every mountain and island were moved out
of their places. 15 The kings of the earth, the princes, the commanding
officers, the rich, the strong, and every slave and free person, hid
themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. 16 They told
the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him
who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, 17 for the great
day of his wrath has come; and who is able to stand?"
1 A choenix is a dry volume measure that is a little
more than a litre (a little more than a quart). 2 The word for "brothers" here and where context
allows may also be correctly translated "brothers and sisters" or
"siblings."
World English Bible - Public Domain |
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